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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I wasn't sure what to think of this book at first but it eventually drew me in. Halfway through I caught myself referring to Stalin era Russia in casual conversation. I enjoyed the story AND learned a lot as well. Wonderful read and I will definitely be reading the others. Highly recommend for anyone interested in historical fiction/thrillers.
I don't read thrillers/horror novels very often, and when I do I'm usually disappointed. But this book was fantastic! The plot was so intricately woven together, and I really enjoyed how Smith switched the narrative point of view around frequently. A very quick, thrilling read that I would LOVE to see a film adaptation of.
I wanted to love this book, but the last quarter of the book made the love fade away. Implausible characters and outcomes that seemed to come out of nowhere made the end of the book a real struggle to get through.
Had no idea what I was getting into with this book. I picked it based on the cover. I'm fully willing to admit that. It's just as ridiculous a way to judge a book as pretty much any other means.
So I didn't realize this was a mystery/spy novel. I had an inkling it was going to have something to do with communism.
I was not prepared for the level of gore and violence. Much of the book is fairly light and a bit of a through-the-looking-glass view of Soviet Russia. Maybe a bit over-the-top, but kind of great as I don't have much of anything else to compare it to and say that it's just one stereotype after another or anything like that (as some other reviewers have said).
Some of the twists were highly predictable. Others just were not.
Tom Rob Smith does a lovely job of telling the portions of the story that are in a child's voice. The voice actor for the audiobook was stupendous. He gets the full 5 stars absolutely.
Really, it's a well-crafted mystery that handles the blood & guts rather well and really puts you in the pit of the shithole that is the environment for the book. Do not use it as research material for you essay about typical life in the USSR, though, would be my two cents.
So I didn't realize this was a mystery/spy novel. I had an inkling it was going to have something to do with communism.
I was not prepared for the level of gore and violence. Much of the book is fairly light and a bit of a through-the-looking-glass view of Soviet Russia. Maybe a bit over-the-top, but kind of great as I don't have much of anything else to compare it to and say that it's just one stereotype after another or anything like that (as some other reviewers have said).
Some of the twists were highly predictable. Others just were not.
Tom Rob Smith does a lovely job of telling the portions of the story that are in a child's voice. The voice actor for the audiobook was stupendous. He gets the full 5 stars absolutely.
Really, it's a well-crafted mystery that handles the blood & guts rather well and really puts you in the pit of the shithole that is the environment for the book. Do not use it as research material for you essay about typical life in the USSR, though, would be my two cents.
Such a brilliant book. I'm not sure whether it was my love for historical fiction, Soviet Russian History or intelligently written crime books that did it but I could not put it down. Yes it was gruesome at times but so was Soviet Russia and the author does an excellent job of portraying this. And that's coming from a history student! Before I'd even finished the book I had to order the other two in the series - can't wait to read them.
A nicely written, well constructed mystery with well developed characters. Leo is a KGB officer in Stalin's USSR who, after arresting a suspected spy, rediscovers his conscious. The story gives insight to the stress of living in an "Utopian" state where paranoia is your only friend, and having power today does not guarantee having power tomorrow. On top of this, there is a murder mystery with enough clues to figure out all the plot twists, but they're subtle enough that they're easy to miss. The development of Leo and Raina's relationship adds to the tension and twists of the story.
It took a long time before I really started enjoying this one, which is surprising because on paper, this is totally up my alley. In practice, I found it kind of a slog that didn't really bring anything new to the serial killer thriller genre. I'm astounded that this is the first in a series, which seems totally unnecessary.
Superb.
A prologue that continues to unpack and inform the novel all the way until the end.
An amazing insight into Stalinist Russia (which paints the county and its culture of terror as a character in the novel).
At times brutal, at other times simply beautiful.
This is one of those novels you need to read about 20% of before its process and style clicks into focus and from that point it gives and never stops giving.
Brilliant.
A prologue that continues to unpack and inform the novel all the way until the end.
An amazing insight into Stalinist Russia (which paints the county and its culture of terror as a character in the novel).
At times brutal, at other times simply beautiful.
This is one of those novels you need to read about 20% of before its process and style clicks into focus and from that point it gives and never stops giving.
Brilliant.
I'll start by saying this: it's really been a long time since a novel has excited, terrified, captivated and interested me as much as Child 44 has. This is one of the best books I've read in ages, and one I'll be able to read over and over and over again.
Smith's writing style is wildly unique and he is, by far, one of my new favourite authors. It's obvious that not only does he possess an amazing talent for writing, but he is genius in his research, making the terrors of Soviet Russia very real. The plot leaves nothing to be desired, either. It starts very quickly and doesn't slow down, the sense of danger is always present. I can't type this review quickly enough, because I want to start The Secret Speech immediately.
I'd rather be sent to the Gulags than spoil even the tiniest bit of this book, so I can only hope that this review will inspire others to read it and dive in with the determination of Leo and Raisa.
Smith's writing style is wildly unique and he is, by far, one of my new favourite authors. It's obvious that not only does he possess an amazing talent for writing, but he is genius in his research, making the terrors of Soviet Russia very real. The plot leaves nothing to be desired, either. It starts very quickly and doesn't slow down, the sense of danger is always present. I can't type this review quickly enough, because I want to start The Secret Speech immediately.
I'd rather be sent to the Gulags than spoil even the tiniest bit of this book, so I can only hope that this review will inspire others to read it and dive in with the determination of Leo and Raisa.